I’m not a big fan of makeup sprays. It feels weird to spray something on my face, after I’ve just finished doing my makeup.
I’m a bit afraid it’ll ruin everything, and that I’ll have to start again, but will less time to do everything properly. And won’t some of the product end up in my eyes and mouth, even if I keep them super shut?
Yet, as a combination skinned gal, I can hardly resist anything that promises to absorb excess sebum and control shine on my t-zone.
So, when I had the chance to try a small sample of Urban Decay De Slick Makeup Setting Spray, I went for it. Did I regret it?
What’s In Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray?
FILM FORMERS
Makeup sprays are similar to setting sprays (but they’re safe to use on the face).
Like hairsprays, they use film-forming agents (in this case, PVP and Menthyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer) that form a protective layer on the skin. This protective layers seals makeup in, preventing it from fading throughout the day.
Menthyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer goes a step further. It also helps absorb excess oil and mattify skin. Too bad there’s not too much of it in this formula.
ALCOHOL DENAT
Wait, isn’t Alcohol Denat bad for skin? It depends on how you use it.
Alone, yes. Alcohol denat can dry out and irritate your skin, especially if it’s sensitive. But add moisturising ingredients to the mix and they counteract its nasty side effects.
Does this makeup setting spray have any moisturising ingredients? Not really. But hopefully, your skincare has already done that job (never apply makeup without doing your skincare base first!).
But what does it do here, anyway? The same thing it does in all spray products: it makes the texture dry quickly on your skin.
Related: What Does Alcohol-Free Really Mean (Hint: It’s NOT What You Think)
Texture
Feels slightly sticky for a few minutes, until it is fully dried.
Fragrance
Faint.
How To Use It
Apply your foundation first. Then, shake the bottle well and, holding it 10″ away from your face, spray it on in an “X” and “T” formation.
Needless to say, shut your eyes before spraying it on. You don’t want this stuff in your eyes!
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Performance & Personal Opinion
Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray looks like a hairspray and feels like a hairspray, but it’s NOT a hairspray. Here’s what makes it different:
- Texture: Makeup setting sprays have less fluid, more lightweight textures that helps them create an uniform layer on your skin.
- Ingredients ratio: Hairsprays contain a higher amount of film-forming agents to create a rigid barrier that keeps hair in place. That’d be too uncomfortable on the skin. Instead, makeup setting sprays contain fewer firm-forming agents and more emollients (like Polyhydroxystearic Acid) that help make skin soft and smooth.
- Irritation: Unlike skin, hair is dead. That means hairsprays are more likely to contain ingredients that are fine on hair but don’t agree with your skin.
Bottom line: DON’T use hairspray on your skin! It may be cheaper, but it’s not safe. And it doesn’t even work that well.
Unfortunately, Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray doesn’t work too well either. Sure, it creates a uniform film on the skin, but that doesn’t extend the lasting power of my makeup that much (but hey, at least it doesn’t ruin it like I feared).
This setting spray kept my t-zone sebum and shine free for two hours longer than usual. Not bad, but my t.-zone is only slightly shiny so De-Slick didn’t have much work to do.
My fear is that if your skin is very oily this won’t do much at all. You’d need to use it together with other oil-controlling products, which kinda defeats the purpose.
I’d rather much stick to a primer that keeps oil production under control and your makeup put for longer. You can check out my fave makeup primers for oily skin here.
But you know what’s the most disappointing thing of all? The much touted temperature-control technology is nonsense. There’s nothing in here that can lower the temperature of your makeup.
Unless that’s just a fancy way of saying that the water in the product provides a refreshing feeling when you apply it.
Related: What Are The Best Primers For Oily Skin?
Who Is This For?
- Oily Skin
- Combination skin
Who Is This NOT For?
Dry skin.
Packaging
Sleek black spray bottle with purple accents. Looks pretty and is practical.
Does Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Meet your most powerful oil-control ally. | There are plenty of oil-controlling products out there that work better than this. |
| De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray mists on weightlessly to make your makeup stay put as it controls oil, deflects surface shine and keeps oily skin looking beautifully matte. | It feels a little tacky for a couple of minutes. After that, it helps keep oil at bay and skin matte for a couple of hours more than normal. |
| High-tech ingredients help keep foundation, shadow and blush from smudging, sliding or fading. | It helps your makeup stay put a couple of hours longer. |
| You got it, this baby actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to help it stay put and keep oily skin looking smooth, but never shiny. | It can’t lower the temperature of your makeup. |
Price & Availability
$33.00/£26.00 at Escentual, Feel Unique, Sephora, and Ulta
Do You Need It?
Not really. If you have oily skin, there are better primers around.
Dupes & Alternatives
- Becca Ever-Matte Powerless Priming Perfector ($39.00)
- Dr Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner ($45.00)
- Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($54.00)
Ingredients
Aqua / Water, Alcohol Denat., PVP, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glycereth-5 Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenylpropanol, Parfum / Fragrance, Propanediol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Poloxamer 407, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Maltodextrin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, BHT.
Because of the alcohol content this is a no go for me.
Melissa, it’s a shame about the alcohol, isn’t it? I don’t like it much either.
i started using this a little while ago and i can’t really tell much of a difference. i’ll have to check out the smashbox one 🙂
Danielle, it doesn’t really do much, is it? It helps, but just a bit.
I actually love this setting spray and don’t see that it dries my face in any way. I have super oily skin, and it seems to help quite a lot actually. But I did just buy it and maybe they reformulated it or something, I don’t know. I guess people have different opinions, this is why I love the blogging community.
xoxo, Rawan from rawanmyselfandi.com
Rawan, I agree. Everyone’s different and what works for one person may not work for another.